Abstract
TIFY transcription factors play crucial regulatory roles in secondary metabolism and stress response. However, the expression patterns of the Cannabis sativa L. TIFY gene family under alkali stress, their involvement in cannabinoid metabolism, and their underlying genetic evolutionary mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In this study, we used bioinformatics approaches to conduct genome-wide identification and functional characterization of the C. sativa TIFY gene family. Fourteen TIFY genes were identified and mapped onto seven chromosomes. These genes were classified into four subfamilies: TIFY, JAZ, ZML, and PPD, with the JAZ subfamily further subdivided into five distinct branches. Collinearity analysis suggested that gene duplication events contributed to the expansion of the TIFY gene family in C. sativa. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed that CsJAZ2, CsJAZ3, and CsJAZ6 participated in the cannabinoid regulatory network. Cis-element analysis indicated that the promoter regions of TIFY genes were enriched in hormone- and stress-responsive elements. Furthermore, transcriptome and RT-qPCR analyses were conducted to examine gene expression patterns under alkaline stress (the RNA employed in RT-qPCR was extracted from the apical leaves of samples subjected to short-duration alkaline stress treatment). The results showed that CsJAZ5 and CsJAZ6 were downregulated, whereas CsPPD1, CsTIFY1, and CsZML1 were upregulated in response to alkali stress. In summary, CsJAZ5, CsPPD1, and CsTIFY1 may serve as candidate genes for the development of alkali-tolerant cultivars, while CsJAZ2 and CsJAZ3 may be valuable targets for enhancing cannabinoid production. This study provides important molecular insights and a theoretical basis for future research on the evolutionary dynamics and functional roles of TIFY transcription factors, particularly in stress adaptation and cannabinoid metabolism.